Use daughter
2013

The Tucson VA had been withholding my medicine. I wrote Congressman Ron Barber for help. Rather than look at the medicine trails, or correct the situation, or contact me, the VA Director had his staff telephone my daughter 900 miles away and tell her that I have so much medicine they are concerned that I might bleed to death.

This fits a pattern. Use secrecy and the trust of an innocent family member to unwittingly divide and disempower the family. Like my sister was used in 1992. Like my Mother was used in 1985.

What did the VA tell her? The telephone does not leave a paper trail so it's the word of the VA against the word of the person they called. Kate Simmons asked the VA twice to put their communications to her in writing. The VA refused. Based on Kate Simmon's memory and emails, the VA basically told her that what I told Congressman Ron Barber was not true:

"June 7, 2013 at 10:01 pm
Kate Simmons to Anthony OConnell
"Hi Tony,
Sorry I have been quiet lately - I have been opening an art gallery in North Beach in San Francisco. It is not public and I keep it off Facebook. http://www.glassdoorgallery.com/Are you ok now with the meds - the VA called me today to check. I can call them back - I was diving but they were nice and said they mailed the meds to you in Green Valley.
Love.
Kate"

"June 24, 2013 at 12:08 am
Kate Simmons to Anthony OConnell
"Kate Simmons <ksimmons92270@yahoo.com>
Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 12:08 AM
Reply-To: Kate Simmons <ksimmons92270@yahoo.com>
To: Anthony OConnell <anthonymineroconnell@gmail.com>The VA Called me on my cell phone to discuss patient Anthony O'Connell. The topic was Anthony O'Connell medications. They called me 2 times in a row, I answered the 2nd time while driving. The first ring from the number I did not pick up.
Bernadette asked me my relationship to O'Connell and I replied that I am his daughter. She then said it would help if he had a telephone and I said he does not have one and does not plan to get one.
Bernadette assured me he was receiving all medications and verified address in Green Valley with me. Bernadette thought he may be getting too much medication from 2 VA hospitals and could bleed out (To death) if this was the case.
I was driving unfortunately and said I could not stay on the phone as I could not pull over. She gave me her extension but I had no way to write it down.""

"Kate Simmons to Anthony OConnell
June 24, 2013 at 2:11 pm
"Kate Simmons <ksimmons92270@yahoo.com>
Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 2:11 PM
Reply-To: Kate Simmons <ksimmons92270@yahoo.com>
To: Anthony OConnell <anthonymineroconnell@gmail.com>Tony, I also remember she said she mailed the meds to the address in Green Valley, and she was surprised you did not receive them.
Kate
Kate Simmons"

Around this time two VAs sent me medicine with the bottle labels and refill request forms that said "fill 4 of 4". Which made it appear as if I received four fills. But I never received a fill 1 of 4, 2 of 4, or 3 of 4. One fill was made to appear as four fills. This makes it appear that what I told Congressman barber was wrong.

"Dear Congressman Barber:
This is in response to your inquiry dated June 3, 2013, on behalf of Mr. Anthony Miner
O'Connell, who contacted your office regarding his medication renewals from the Southern
Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS). I asked Ms. Bernadette Schaeffer, Outpatient
Pharmacy Program Manager to review your request.In reviewing Mr. O'Connell's records it was determined that he does not have a telephone. Ms
Schaeffer did contact his daughter Ms. Kate Simmons on June 7, 2013. Ms. Schaeffer confirmed
that, Mr. O'Connell is receiving medications from the Consolidated Medication Outpatient
Pharmacy and/or the SAVAHCS. He is also receiving medication from the Northern VA Health
Care System (NAVAHCS). Ms Simmons was surprised that her father was still concerned about
his prescriptions, as he had recently told her that he had resolved the issue. Ms. Schaeffer
provided Ms. Simmons with her contact information if any issues with his medication arise.
The SAVAHCS strives to provide quality and compassionate care to all of our Veterans. We are
very concerned with patient care and the satisfaction of the Veterans we serve. If you have any
questions or concerns regarding this letter, please contact Ms. Bernadette Schaeffer at
(520) 792-1450, extension 5394.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Gardner, MPA, FACHE
Director
Southern Arizona VA Health Care System
(Tucson VA Director Jonathan Gardner to Congressman Ron Barber, June 13, 2013)

Kate Simmons tells the VA to not telephone her but to communicate with her and me in writing.

Kate Simmons again tells the VA to not telephone her but to communicate with her and me in writing.

(September 18, 2013, Kate Simmons (veteran's daughter) to director)
Kate Simmons
411 Myra Way
San Francisco, CA 94127
September 18, 2013
Director Jonathan Gardner
Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS)
3601 South 6th Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85723
Reference: Telephone call of June 7, 2013, concerning Anthony OConnell, last four
7637
Dear Director Gardner,
I am trying to remember a telephone call I received from your office on June 7, 2013: I
was driving in traffic and was distracted. Would you please tell me the purpose and
content of the call? If you recorded it please send me a transcript.If you contact me again concerning Anthony O'Connell please do it by letter
with a copy to Anthony O'Connell, and not by telephone. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Kate Simmons
Copy to:
Anthony O'Connell
439 South Vista Del Rio
Green Valley, AZ 85614

(December 6, 2013, kate simmons to multiple recepients)
Kate Simmons <ksimmons92270@yahoo.com> Fri, Dec 6, 2013 at 2:08 PM
Reply-To: Kate Simmons <ksimmons92270@yahoo.com>
To: "jonathan.gardner@med.va.gov" <jonathan.gardner@med.va.gov>, "marjorie.ford@med.va.gov"
<marjorie.ford@med.va.gov>, "kernk@email.arizona.edu" <kernk@email.arizona.edu>, "joseph.rindone@va.gov"
<joseph.rindone@va.gov>, "john.nanson@med.va.gov" <john.nanson@med.va.gov>, "timothy.mueller@med.va.gov"
<timothy.mueller@med.va.gov>, "patty.valera@mail.house.gov" <patty.valera@mail.house.gov>
Cc: Anthony OConnell <anthonymineroconnell@gmail.com>
Dear recipients:
On November 14, 2013, I received a phone call from someone in the VA that said Cardiology had sent two letters
to Anthony O'Connell. Would you please send to me and Mr. Anthony O'Connell copies of these two letters?
I am Anthony O'Connell's Health Care Agent in his Power of Attorney for Health Care and Living Will dated
January 1, 2009. He tells me that he has rescinded this document. He has repeatedly asked that this document be
removed from the VA records, and has done all the procedures he has been instructed to do to make this happen,
such as going to the Release of Information, and trying to make an appointment with the social worker. Please
release this document from the VA records now and send verification to me and Anthony O'Connell that it has
been done.
Please adhere to my September 18, 2013, letter to the Director that said, in part: "If you contact me again
concerning Anthony O'Connell please do it by letter with a copy to Anthony O'Connell, and not by telephone."
Thank you,
Kate Simmons
411 Myra Way
San Francisco, CA 94127